Edinburg issues building permits for almost $229 million in total construction work from January through September 2017, reports Edinburg EDC

Dr. John H. Krouse (at center), Dean of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and Vice President for Health Affairs, participated with state and federal lawmakers in a panel discussion on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 hosted by The Texas Tribune on healthcare reform. The event was held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance in Edinburg. Featured, from left, are: Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune; Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Krouse; Rep. Óscar Longoria, D-La Joya; and Congressman. Filemón Vela, D-Brownsville. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.

Photograph By DAVID PIKE

Total construction activities in Edinburg from January through September 2017, including more than $11.2 million for the month of September, reached almost $229 million, compared with almost $180 million during the first nine months of 2016, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced. During September 2017, new construction of commercial facilities and new construction of new homes and multi-family residences led the way, with the issuance of building permits for investments valued at almost $3.9 million and more than $3 million, respectively. Those year-to-date and monthly totals do not include the value of any building-related activities at The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and the UTRGV School of Medicine in Edinburg because the state government, not the city, oversees all construction at the Edinburg campuses. The building permits do not include the value of the land for the homes and buildings. In general, a building permit is legal permission given by the City of Edinburg, through the Code Enforcement Department, to erect, construct, renovate, maintain, or conduct any other specified activity on any building or structure, or on any installations or facilities therein. The term “building permit” includes but is not limited to building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, and plumbing permits. The top construction project in Edinburg for September 2017, not including the value of the land, are: $2,000,000 – South Texas International Airport at Edinburg, 1300 E. FM 490, Edinburg Airport Subdivision (Non-taxable/Addition/Remodel) and $1,600,000 – Texas Regional Bank, 203 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson Park Subdivision Phase 2 (Commercial New). The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of City Councilmember Gilbert Enríquez as President, Miguel “Mike” Farías as Vice-President, Isael Posadas, P.E., as Secretary/Treasurer, and Julio César Carranza and Noé Sauceda as Members.

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Edinburg issues building permits for almost $229 million in total construction work from January through September 2017, reports Edinburg EDC

Total construction activities in Edinburg from January through September 2017, including more than $11.2 million for the month of September, reached almost $229 million, compared with almost $180 million during the first nine months of 2016, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced.

During September 2017, new construction of commercial facilities and new construction of new homes and multi-family residences led the way, with the issuance of building permits for investments valued at almost $3.9 million and more than $3 million, respectively.

Those year-to-date and monthly totals do not include the value of any building-related activities at The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and the UTRGV School of Medicine in Edinburg because the state government, not the city, oversees all construction at the Edinburg campus.

The building permits do not include the value of the land for the homes and buildings.

The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of City Councilmember Gilbert Enríquez as President, Miguel “Mike” Farías as Vice-President, Isael Posadas, P.E., as Secretary/Treasurer, and Julio César Carranza and Noé Sauceda as Members.

In general, a building permit is legal permission given by the City of Edinburg, through the Code Enforcement Department, to erect, construct, renovate, maintain, or conduct any other specified activity on any building or structure, or on any installations or facilities therein. The term “building permit” includes but is not limited to building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, and plumbing permits.

MOST VALUABLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2017

For September 2017, total construction activities in Edinburg was $11,274,066, according to the city’s Code Enforcement Department.

The top construction projects in Edinburg for September 2017, not including the value of the land, are:

390 NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, VALUED AT $45.8 MILLION, APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION FROM JANUARY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2017

For the month of September 2017, building permits were issued for 33 new single-family residences, valued at $3,858,030, compared with 45 new single-family residences, valued at $5,257,672, during September 2016.

Year-to-date (January through September 2017), building permits were issued for 390 new single-family residences, valued at $45,822,325 compared with 357 new single-family residences, valued at $47,071,342, from January through September 2016.

In addition, for the month of September 2017, building permits were issued for 42 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $373,445, compared with 52 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $506,945, in September 2016.

Year-to-date (January through September 2017), building permits were issued for 542 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $5,121,660, compared with 544 additions/remodels of single-family residences, valued at $4,410,240, from January through September 2016.

Multi-family residences – which range from two-unit duplexes to complexes of five or more units – totaled 30 buildings, representing 60 units, valued at $3,005,746, were approved for construction in September 2017. By comparison, there were 39 multi-family residences, representing 78 units, valued at $2,681,188, issued building permits in September 2016.

Year-to-date (January through September 2017), building permits were issued for 251 multi-family residences, representing 704 units, valued at $42,383,402, compared with 230 multi-family residences, representing 928 units, valued at $61,665,264, from January through September 2016.

The top categories in Edinburg for September 2017, which led to the total figure of $11,274,066 were:

$3,858,030 – Single-Family Residences New Construction;
$3,005,764 – Multi-Family Residences New Construction;
$2,000,000 – Non-Taxable Alterations (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine);
$1,712,850 – Commercial New Construction;
$373,445 – Residential Alterations;
$323,995 – Commercial Alterations; and
$0 – Non-Taxable New (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine);

The top categories in Edinburg during September 2016, which led to the total figure of $13,322,708, were:

$5,257,672 – Single-Family Residences New Construction;
$4,220,393 – Commercial Alterations;
$2,681,188 – Multi-Family Residences New Construction;
$655,170 – Commercial New Construction;
$506,945 – Residential Alterations;
$1,340,00 – Non-Taxable Alterations (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine); and
$0 – Non-Taxable New (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine).

The top categories in Edinburg for the months of January through September 2017, which led to the total figure of $228,340,105, were:

$84,537,000 – Non-Taxable New (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine);
$45,822,325 – Single-Family Residences New Construction;
$42,383,402 – Multi-Family Residences New Construction;
$32,136,044 – Commercial New Construction;
$10,996,569– Commercial Alterations;
$7,343,105 – Non-Taxable Alterations (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine); and
$5,121,660 – Residential Alterations.

During the previous year, for the months of January through September 2016, the top categories in Edinburg, which led to the total figure of $179,762,188 were:

$61,655,264 – Multi-Family Residences New Construction;
$47,071,342 – Single-Family Residences New Construction;
$33,244,255 – Commercial New Construction;
$27,336,326 – Commercial Alterations;
$5,016,361 – Non-Taxable Alterations (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine); and
$4,410,240 – Residential Alterations; and
$1,028,400 – Non-Taxable New (government, religious, but not including the value of construction activities at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley or its School of Medicine).

SEPTEMBER 2017 CITY BUILDING PERMITS, $100,000 AND HIGHER

Single-Family Residences New Construction

For September 2017, there were 33 single-family residences issued building permits by the city.

The building permits, which do not include the price of the lot, ranged from $15,000 to $270,000, and represented a total value of $3,858,030.

Of the 33 single-family residences for which building permits were issued, 23 of them were for construction each valued at $100,000 or higher.

The $100,000+ building permits follow by value of the construction, name of the owner(s), address, and subdivision. The permits do not include the value of the lot.

For September 2017, building permits were issued for 20 multi-family residences new construction/addition/remodel, with 15 of those projects valued at $100,000 or higher (not including the price of the lot).

Work on those new facilities represented a combined value of $3,005,746 for that month.

The building permits for the 20 structures each valued at $100,000 0r higher follow by value of the construction, name of the owner, address, and subdivision:

For September 2017, there was no building permit issued for non-taxable new construction.

UTRGV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE DEAN PARTICIPATES IN TEXAS TRIBUNE’S“CONVERSATION ON HEALTH CARE REFORM”

Dr. John H. Krouse, Dean of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and Vice President for Health Affairs, participated in The Texas Tribune’s “A Conversation on Health Care Reform” panel discussion, held Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.

The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.

The panel, which included Congressman Filemón Vela, D-Brownsville; Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; and Rep. Óscar Longoria, D-La Joya, discussed the challenges the state and the Rio Grande Valley face in providing affordable healthcare access to citizens and how the Valley, state and federal governments can work together to improve access to care.

Krouse also talked about the efforts the School of Medicine is undertaking to provide care to Valley residents in medically underserved areas, including healthcare provided through the Unimóvil mobile clinic, and its AHEC sites.

The panel was moderated by Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of the Texas Tribune.

ABOUT UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.

UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.

UTRGV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDENTS GET HEAD STAR ON THEIR TRAINING WITH FLU SHOTS
Administering a vaccine for the first time might intimidate some aspiring doctors – especially if the patient is their instructor – but first-year medical student Patrick Ojeaga wasn’t ruffled.

“It was fun,” said Ojeaga, who administered his very first flu shot on Wednesday, November 22, 2107 to Dr. Eron Manusov, Assistant Dean of Clinical Education and Professor and Chair of the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. “Dr. Manusov was really calm, which made me calm.”

Ojeaga was one of more than a dozen first- and second-year medical students who traveled to Indian Hills, a community near Mercedes, to assist clinical staff and medical residents from Knapp Family Medicine in treating patients.

The students, all under the supervision of School of Medicine faculty and healthcare professionals, also administered flu shots to patients, something students at other medical schools do not get to do until later in their studies.

The School of Medicine has been offering healthcare to residents of the Indian Hills community for the past two years in its efforts to close gaps in healthcare access to people living in underserved areas. This is the second year the School of Medicine has brought medical students to receive training on administering vaccines to patients.

Ojeaga, who was born and raised in McAllen and completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin, said he chose to study medicine at UTRGV to because of its commitment to providing care to underserved areas and the school’s close-knit community.

“The small class size provides a family environment,” he said.

He also enjoys having the opportunity to interact with patients much sooner than students at other medical schools.

“I tell a lot of interviewees (students interested in the School of Medicine) when they come in that we get patient exposure right away,” he said. “I know I have a jump on other students at other schools because we get that exposure right away.

“We are going to be really prepared when we hit our third year and start our preceptorships (hands-on training under the guidance of a medical professional),” he said.